Lightning Safety for Organized Outdoor Athletic Events

Practice and training increase recreation performance. Similarly,
preparedness can reduce the risk of the lightning hazard. Lightning is
the most frequent weather hazard impacting athletics events. Baseball,
football, lacrosse, skiing, swimming, soccer, tennis, track and field
events...all these and other outdoor sports have been visited by lightning.

Education is the single most important means to achieve lightning
safety. A lightning safety program should be implemented at every facility.
The following steps are suggested:

1. A responsible person should be designated to monitor weather
conditions. Local weather forecasts - from The Weather Channel, NOAA Weather
Radio, or local TV stations - should be observed 24 hours prior to athletic
events. An inexpensive portable weather radio is recommended for obtaining
timely storm data.

4. Lightning's distance from you is easy to calculate: if
you hear thunder, it and the associated lightning are within auditory
range about 6-8 miles away. The distance from Strike A to Strike
B also can be 6-8 miles. Ask yourself why you should NOT go to shelter
immediately. Of course, different distances to shelter will determine
different times to suspend activities. A good lightning safety motto is:
"If you can see it (lightning) flee it; if you
can hear it (thunder), clear it."